Charles Fort
A visit to a star-shaped fort, which was built in the 1670s to protect the entrance to the Kinsale Harbour
The fort is built in the shape of a star , which is specifically designed to withstand cannon attacks. However, the fort is overlooked by a higher ground, which meant it was quite vulnerable to attacks from the land. After last such siege in 1689 the fort was repaired and served as army barracks for a few hundred years until it was burned in 1922 by retreating anti-Anglo-Irish Treaty forces. The complex was named a National Monument of Ireland in 1971 and has been partly restored by Dúchas, the Irish heritage service.
